Embodiments are directed to a wearable audio device, such as an earbud. The earbud may be configured to detect input using various sensors and structures. For example, the earbud may be configured to detect gestures, physical manipulations, and so forth performed along or on the earbud. In response to the detected inputs, the earbud may be configured to change various outputs, such as an audio output or a haptic output of the device. The earbud may also include a microphone to register voice commands. In some cases, the microphone may be used to control the earbud using the registered voice command in response to one or more detected gestures or physical manipulations.
Legal claims defining the scope of protection, as filed with the USPTO.
1. A wearable audio device, comprising: an enclosure defining an opening and comprising: a body defining an internal volume enclosing a speaker and defining an opening operably coupled to the speaker; and a stem extending from a lower portion of the body; a sealing component connected to the body and configured to define a sealed passage from the opening to an ear of a user; the speaker acoustically coupled to the sealed passage and configured to provide an audio output; a sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect a squeeze input at the stem; and a processing unit operatively coupled to the sensor and the speaker, the processing unit configured to: in response to the sensor detecting the squeeze input, control a function of the wearable audio device.
2. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein: the wearable audio device further comprises a microphone positioned at least partially within the enclosure and configured to detect an audio input; the processing unit is operatively coupled with the microphone; and the processing unit is configured to control the wearable audio device based on the audio input.
3. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a touch-sensitive region configured to receive a gesture input.
4. The wearable audio device of claim 3 , wherein the enclosure comprises a tactile structure positioned at the touch-sensitive region.
5. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is a force sensor configured to detect a change in capacitance that corresponds to a deformation of a surface of the stem caused by the squeeze input.
6. A wearable audio device, comprising: an enclosure defining an earbud body and a stem extending from a lower portion of the earbud body; a sealing component connected to the earbud body and having a conformable surface; a sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect a squeeze of the stem; and a speaker positioned in the earbud body and configured to provide an audio output through the sealing component, wherein the audio output changes in response to the squeeze of the stem.
7. The wearable audio device of claim 6 , wherein: the sealing component defines an opening acoustically coupled to the speaker; the conformable surface is configured to conform to a surface of an ear of a user, thereby forming a sealed passage between the speaker and the ear; and the wearable audio device is further configured to detect a placement of the wearable audio device at least partially in the ear.
8. The wearable audio device of claim 7 , wherein: the wearable audio device further comprises: a microphone configured to receive an audio input; and a processing unit operatively coupled to the microphone and the sensor and configured to, in response to the wearable audio device detecting placement of the wearable audio device at least partially in the ear, control a function of the wearable audio device using the audio input.
9. The wearable audio device of claim 6 , wherein the wearable audio device is configured to provide haptic feedback in response to the squeeze of the stem.
10. A wearable audio device, comprising: an enclosure defining comprising: a body defining an opening and an interior volume; and a stem extending from a lower portion of the body; an exterior surface; an opening in the exterior surface; and an interior volume; a sealing component positioned around the opening and configured to form a sealed passage between the interior volume of the body enclosure and a user's ear canal; a first sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect a squeeze input at the stem enclosure; a second sensor positioned within the enclosure and configured to detect an audio input; and a processing unit positioned in the body and operatively coupled with the first sensor and the second sensor, the processing unit configured to control a function of the wearable audio device using the audio input and the squeeze input.
11. The wearable audio device of claim 10 , wherein: the wearable audio device further comprises a speaker within the interior volume and acoustically coupled with the opening; the sealing component defines a sealed passage between the opening and the user's ear canal; and the speaker is configured to provide an audio output to the user's ear canal through the sealed passage.
12. The wearable audio device of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit is operatively coupled with the speaker and configured to: cause the speaker to output a first audio signal corresponding to the squeeze input; and cause the speaker to output a second audio signal corresponding to the audio input.
13. The wearable audio device of claim 11 , wherein the processing unit is further configured to: in response to the first sensor detecting the squeeze input, control a function of a companion device communicatively coupled to the wearable audio device; and in response to the second sensor detecting the audio input, control another function of the companion device.
14. The wearable audio device of claim 10 , wherein the wearable audio device is one of a pair of wearable audio devices, each of the pair of wearable audio devices configured to wirelessly receive information associated with an operational context from a companion device.
15. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein controlling the function of the wearable audio device comprises activating a voice command mode.
16. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein: the wearable audio device is operatively coupled to a companion device; the audio output is controlled by the companion device; and controlling the function of the wearable audio device comprises transmitting a command to the companion device to change the audio output.
17. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein: the audio output is music; and controlling the function of the wearable audio device comprises pausing playback of the music.
18. The wearable audio device of claim 1 , wherein controlling the function of the wearable audio device comprises activating a noise cancellation mode.
19. The wearable audio device of claim 6 , wherein: the audio output is music; and changing the audio output comprises changing from outputting a first track to outputting a second track.
Cooperative Patent Classification codes for this invention. Click any code to explore related patents in that topic.
August 4, 2018
August 25, 2020
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